vivarium | CALHOUN HOUR

Early in the morning of Day 84, an announcement booms from the warehouse speakers:

"All test subjects report to the first floor lobby immediately for your next experiment."

Zero's unmistakable garbled voice goes silent afterwards. Once everyone gathers downstairs, they'll be treated to an unexpected sight: Zero standing in front of them in the flesh. Standing tall (at 5'4"...), they're donned in the same piece of clothing everyone remembers them in: a black raincoat (large and long enough that it covers their entire body, leaving no distinguishable features), a full facial gas mask, and matching black gloves. It seems as if Zero really dislikes showing skin...

"Today, you will be participating in a game of, what you may call, 'Bingo'. I believe most of you have participated in this before. The rules and explanations are on the back of the cards." An arm is raised to motion towards the paper cards scattered on the nearby table, then it falls again.

"Due to some... unfortunate events, I will monitor you in person. However, do not underestimate what will happen to you should you decide to cheat, escape, attack, or do anything that will break my rules. Your bracelets are still very functional and my cameras will continue to record every move you take, so I suggest that you refrain from doing anything foolish."

"Now begin."

BASIC INFO ✖ LET'S PLAY BINGO ✖ TURN-IN ✖ POST-EVENT

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Wasn't accidental, y'know. Simon poisoned me on purpose." Still, Heiji looked thoughtful.

"What do you mean, you were wondering what was goin' on in your head? So something happened that made ya think about it?"

A few things. It would have taken me longer to figure out had I not recalled my conversation with my sister. She talked about my ex and I realized she was talking about a man and about perhaps dating her female acquaintances instead. *Snake sounded quite matter of fact about the whole thing.* It didn't feel shocking at all. It was more like, "Oh, I guess I like men and women."

Then of course, I had thought, "Well just because you like men doesn't necessarily mean you like Heiji." To which I did a quick rewind of what I'd been feeling and then reality smacked me between the eyes.

"Really? What'd you been feeling?" Heiji leaned forward, forgetting that they were in the middle of a game of Truth or Dare entirely.

He was clearly interested in the subject; after all, it was only after confessing that he'd realized Snake liked him at all.

*Snake was more than halfway tempted to tell Heiji if he wanted to know the answer to that, he could ask it as another Truth. But it struck him as being a churlish response at best. He did feel slightly foolish saying these things out loud.*

Sometimes you would say things that were quite kind. They kind of...made my heart happy, for lack of a better expression.

"Yeah?" Hearing him say that made Heiji happy, actually. And a little embarrassed, but he could get over that. He took Snake's hand, smiling.

"Then... I guess I gotta say 'em more often. You didn't mention that when I asked ya what you like, y'know." How terrible, Snake, holding out on him like that.

I was trying to avoid overly mawkish sentiment. *He works in physics, not romantic novels, thank you.* But...if you were to occasionally surprise me that way, I don't think I'd mind.

"Hmm..." So he had to say nice things occasionally, but not all the time? This was difficult...

"I can't quite figure ya out. Sometimes you say stuff that's really embarrassing, but then ya hate other stuff. So... are we done? Or did you wanna keep playing?"

*Just don't be excessive in compliments and you'd be all right, Heiji.* No...I think we've had a productive game, Heiji. Thank you. I enjoyed it.

"No problem!" And you were so lucky Heiji didn't dare you to give Jake that foot massage.

"Okay, I'm gonna go fill out some more squares. I'll see ya later, okay?"

CALHOUN HOUR - BINGO II

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